Subscribe to this blog

Get our latest updates via email

Search This Blog

Live From the 205 (4/23/19): Persian Lion Rising

The dust has settled, and we now have a clear post-WrestleMania contender for Cruiserweight Champion Tony Nese. Congrats, Ariya Daivari, you're up.

While circumstances are currently preventing Tony's real nemesis Drew Gulak from challenging for his title, Ariya is a fine start. The rebuild's gotta start somewhere, and we might as well go for a heel that needs establishing too. I'm totally fine with this, and it's a good thing I listened to Ali's Talk Is Jericho guesting before writing this, because he reminded me how underrated Daivari is.

For the uninitiated, here's what you're getting with Ariya Daivari: a solid and intense WWE-style wrestler who can work, but you forget he can work because he doesn't do anything flashy. It's an understated great first pick for Nese as a champion, because the huge contrast in styles will frame his high-flying well.

This feud is probably going to climax at Money in the Bank, and if it does I wouldn't mind. Nese's reign is the kind that really suits a revolving-door set of challengers to help build everyone's profile, moreso than Buddy Murphy and Cedric Alexander's. It's going to be a low-key summer for 205 Live, so strap yourselves in, boys.

205 Live 4/23/19 Final Grade: The rebuild continues with this episode, setting the table for Nese's next challenger, and Gulak's path moving forward. It's one of those skippable shows that reward only the most loyal 205 Live fans. B

Short stops

I'm not too sure what the plan for Jack Gallagher and Drew Gulak is, as the video promo Jack sent in wasn't exactly the most riveting. All I really got from it was that he had stitches in his mustache area so he couldn't be at the show.

I hope Nigel's absence from the show isn't permanent, because David Otunga filling in for him was extremely dull. Nigel gave the commentary table life by being the contrarian heel character, and with three babyfaces on the table the play-by-play became unremarkable. Aiden's already doing a good job of being the babyface color guy, so there was absolutely no need for Otunga (unless he heels it up).

Drew Gulak (#10 last week) — Gulak has a match after a while and puts over Carrillo, but I don't think we've seen the end of it.

Mike Kanellis (#6 last week) — Is probably getting a match next week?

Lucha House Party (#7 last week) — Gets destroyed this week by the Viking Experience Raiders on RAW.

Brian Kendrick (new) — Is a distraction.

Jack Gallagher (new) — Will be back soon.

Photo from WWE

*****

Romeo Moran (@roiswar) is the Editor in Chief of Smark Henry, one of the three hosts of the Smark Gilas-Pilipinas Podcast, and is associated with Philippine Wrestling Revolution. He gets by in this hard knock life through working in publishing. Smark Henry was his and Stan Sy's original vision of a watering hole for local wrestling fans. He roots for the undersized guys who hit hard, but really hates Davey Richards with his entire soul. He likes taking your wrestling questions over on his Curiouscat account.